Executive Turntable: Lufthansa CFO Boards Live Giant — Plus, Top Biz Managers Elevated in Nashville

Nashville-based business management firm Harris, Huelsman, Barnes & Company has announced a round of promotions. John Huelsman, who rose to principal/partner earlier this year, has taken on the title of president, while founder/COO Becky Harris takes on the title of CEO. Harris and Huelsman are both honorees on Billboard’s 2025 Top Business Managers list. The company’s talent roster includes artists including Chris Young, Frankie Ballard, Scotty Hasting, Michael Ray, Angie K, Alexandra Kay, as well as producer James Stroud. “I’m so excited to hand John the reins as President,” Harris said in a statement. “He has always bent over backwards to help our clients and shares my vision of a family atmosphere where we treat all clients as part of that family.” –Jessica Nicholson

Betty Sanders, aka FBMM’s first employee and current chief people officer, will retire at year’s end after nearly four decades with the entertainment business management firm. Sanders joined Chuck Flood & Associates in 1986 and transitioned to FBMM when it launched in 1990, rising from receptionist to executive roles before becoming CPO. Regarded as the “heart and soul” of FBMM, she helped shape the company’s culture and growth. Her career also included work in music publishing and publicity, and she was inducted into the SOURCE Hall of Fame in 2022. “FBMM has been shaped by her kindness, dedication and the way she has always cared so deeply for both our people and our company,” said Julie Boos, owner and chairman. “Words can’t adequately express the impact she’s had over the last four decades on our company and the people we are today.” Tiffany Coursey, with 25 years of HR experience, will succeed Sanders as senior vice president of HR, overseeing employee initiatives across FBMM’s Nashville, New York and Los Angeles offices.

Alt-rock imprint Big Loud Rock has amped-up its promotion team under senior vp Dave Barbis, adding Dave Derkowski and Brien Terranova as senior directors of radio promotion, alongside Nick Marquez, who came aboard earlier this year as director of national radio promotion. Terranova, based in Los Angeles, brings over 30 years of experience from Beggars Group and Capitol Records. Derkowski, in Chicago, spent three decades at Warner Records, helping break singles for acts like Green Day and The Black Keys. Marquez, based in NYC, previously worked at 300 Elektra and WMG. “Brien, Dave and Nick bring an outstanding depth of radio relationships and unique experience to the promo team,” said Big Loud president Joey Moi. “I’m thrilled to continue building a national team that expands our footprint and ensures our artists take over the airwaves across the country.”

James Patterson has joined ATC Group as chief operating officer as the music management firm prepares to list on the UK’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and raise 8.6 million pounds. Patterson, formerly vp of global operations at The Trade Desk, brings expertise in scaling businesses and data-fueled strategies. The company’s board also added Cliff Fluet as a non-executive director. New funding will support ATC’s efforts across artist management, creator services, and live events, serving 900-plus clients. ATC plans to expand direct-to-fan offerings, artist-centric technologies and partnerships. Following its 2021 IPO, ATC has made major acquisitions and launched ROAM, now the world’s largest independent live booking agency. Headquartered in London, ATC operates globally with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Europe.

Dune, a new UK-based music platform launched this month, has appointed Thom Brunner as chief operating officer and Max Crowther as head of artist services. Dune, created by Paul Knowles and Paul Bowe, is an app-based platform that lets fans invest in their favorite artists by purchasing stakes that rise or fall with streaming performance. Artists benefit from new revenue streams and actionable insights, while fans enjoy exclusive perks and the ability to trade their stakes. Brunner, reporting to the co-CEOs, will lead operations, partnerships and rollout strategy from London. He brings extensive experience in music marketing and artist relations, including roles at Warner Music and Sassy Media. Crowther, based in Manchester, will manage artist onboarding and other strategic initiatives to boost artist engagement.

MusicNation, the UAE’s leading collective rights management organization, has appointed Aisha Y. Salem-Howey as general counsel. In this newly created role, Salem-Howey will oversee legal, regulatory and governance strategies while advancing international engagement to strengthen the UAE’s music rights infrastructure. Based in Abu Dhabi, she’ll report to CEO Amer M. Samhoun. A seasoned intellectual property attorney, Salem-Howey previously served as IP attaché for the Middle East and North Africa at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and held roles at the U.S. Copyright Office, NBCUniversal and other IP-focused orgs. 

Townsend Music has appointed veteran music executive Mike Walsh as a direct-to-consumer sales and product consultant, marking a key step in its growth following acquisition by Artone in 2024. Walsh will drive new business development, industry communications and product strategy, reporting to sales director Bruce McKenzie. He brings decades of experience, including senior roles at The Trade Desk, Serenade and Parlophone Records, and he’s a co-founder of The Money Trench podcast. Townsend operates 1,500 artist stores and provides chart-eligible direct-to-fan solutions in 18 countries, supporting campaigns for artists like Kylie, Jorja Smith and Noel Gallagher.

Live Nation veteran Bruce Moran is moving into a new role as executive chairman of Latin America Touring, shifting from his current position as president of the division to focus on strategic oversight and long-term growth. Pollstar broke the news. Under Moran’s leadership, Live Nation’s Latin America division has experienced rapid expansion, promoting more than 170 shows in 2025 alone. Before joining Live Nation in 2006, Moran served as CEO of Mexican promoter OCESA — now 75% owned by Live Nation — and earlier as vp of music at Madison Square Garden.

SiriusXM Holdings announced Tuesday that chief financial officer Tom Barry will step down by year’s end. He will be succeeded by Zac Coughlin, currently CFO at PVH Corp, the parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein … Meanwhile, Warner Music Group revealed that Leho Nigul has been promoted to chief technology officer, effective Dec. 1. Nigul takes over from Ariel Bardin, who will transition out of his role as president of technology after three years but remain with the company through 2025 to ensure a smooth handover … and Scott Borchetta, founder and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, was awarded the 2025 CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excellence by the Country Music Association on Wednesday (Nov. 19) … finally, did you get Robert Kyncl‘s memo on WMG’s AI strategy?